Gratitude in the Midst of Hardship: A Thanksgiving Reflection

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us feel the tension between the joy of gratitude and the weight of life’s struggles. The season invites us to gather, give thanks, and celebrate abundance—but for some, it also stirs memories of loss, loneliness, or unmet hopes.

In Catholic psychotherapy, we recognize that gratitude is not about denying hardship. Rather, it is about holding both realities together: the blessings and the burdens, the consolations and the crosses.

🍂 Gratitude as a Healing Practice

Gratitude is more than a polite “thank you.” It is a spiritual discipline that reshapes how we see the world. When we pause to notice the gifts of God—family, friendship, creation, even the breath in our lungs—we begin to cultivate resilience. Gratitude grounds us in the truth that we are loved and sustained, even when circumstances feel overwhelming.

🌧️ Naming the Hardships

Yet, authentic gratitude does not ignore pain. Holidays can magnify grief, highlight strained relationships, or remind us of what we lack. In therapy, we encourage clients to name these realities honestly. The Psalms themselves model this balance: lament and thanksgiving often live side by side. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good” (Psalm 118:1) is spoken even in the midst of trial.

✝️ Gratitude and the Cross

For Catholics, gratitude is inseparable from the Cross. Christ gave thanks at the Last Supper, knowing suffering lay ahead. His Eucharistic thanksgiving (“eucharistia” means thanksgiving) teaches us that gratitude is not reserved for easy times—it is a way of uniting our hardships with His redemptive love.

🕊️ Practical Ways to Live Gratitude This Season

• Keep a gratitude journal: Write down three blessings each day, even small ones.

• Offer prayers of thanksgiving: Begin with “Thank you, Lord…” before petitions.

• Acknowledge grief: Share your struggles with a trusted friend, therapist, or in prayer. Gratitude grows deeper when it is honest.

• Serve others: Acts of kindness remind us that we are part of a larger story of love.

🌟 A Word of Hope

If this Thanksgiving feels heavy, know that you are not alone. Gratitude does not erase hardship, but it can transform how we carry it. In the light of faith, even our wounds can become places where God’s mercy shines.

This season, may we give thanks not only for what is easy, but also for the strength to endure what is hard. And may our gratitude draw us closer to Christ, who is both our joy and our healer.